Recent Trends of Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Gram-negative Bacteria Collected from Clinical Isolates in Dhaka City

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND: Gram-negative bacteria responsible for a significant rise in antimicrobial resistance over the past 20 years. This alarming resistance has been linked to increased mortality and health-care costs, particularly for patients, clinicians, and the health-care system. Gram-negative bacteria cause a wide range of infectious diseases including gastrointestinal tract infections, urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, meningitis, typhoid fever, shigellosis, bacteremia, and septicemia. METHODS: A total of 220 different clinical specimens were collected between October 2022 and November 2023 from various renowned diagnostic centers of Dhaka, Bangladesh. According to the study plan, 199 Gram-negative bacterial isolates were collected, transported, and processed in the Microbiology Laboratory of Stamford University Bangladesh. RESULTS: The study found that female patients were predominant than male patients except for the Proteus cases. Escherichia coli was highly resistant to various antibiotics, with resistance levels ranging from 100% to 66%, although colistin was found effective. Azithromycin was the most ineffective antibiotic against Klebsiella, with 100% resistance. Other antibiotics showed high resistance, although colistin and imipenem showed effective sensitivity. High resistance levels were observed in azithromycin, colistin, doxycycline, nalidixic acid, co-trimoxazole, nitrofurantoin, cefuroxime, and amoxyclave for Proteus-infected patients, although some antibiotics showed effective sensitivity. However, Acinetobacter isolates were also found with high resistance levels across all age groups. For Pseudomonas cases, amoxyclav, nitrofurantoin, and cotrimoxazole were the most ineffective antibiotics, but colistin, ceftazidime, piperacillin, meropenem, and amikacin showed satisfactory efficacy. CONCLUSION: The study reveals alarming multidrug resistance in Gram-negative bacteria in Dhaka, raising public health concerns. Age and gender should be considered when selecting antibiotics.